Multiple scanning device



Dec. 12, 1933. 3 w, woo w 1,938,990

MULTIPLE SCANNING DEVICE Filed March 31; 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 B $7 646mg- A ifor ney Dec. 12, 1933. 5. w WOODWARD 1,938,990

MULTIPLE SCANNING DEVICE Filed March 51, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IW WZ/IHWMM A tier ney Patented 12, 1933 PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE SCANNING DEVICE Benjamin W. Woodward,

assignor to Walter Howey,

Brooklyn, N. Y., New York, N. Y.

Application March 31, 1930. Serial No. 440,334

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in multiple scanning devices for use in automatic engraving and it more especially consists of the fea tures pointed out'in the annexed claims.

The purpose of my invention is to provide a simple method of multiple scanning by means of which thespeed of reproduction is increased without recourse to increased speeds of rotation of the object carrier and its direct connected reproducing device; that by reason of a multiplicity of light sensitive elements in a single unit and coordinated recording elements I am able to scan a plurality of adjacent paths simultaneously; that the traverse of the group of light responsive and the group of recording elements is made at a linear rate, the pitch of which is an aggregate of a given plurality of individual or unitary scanning lines; and that with a plurality of light sensitive scanners and a corresponding number of reproducers each individual scanner and its reproducer is put into service so as to connect the elements of a group in succession to a source of current and to a single amplifying system.

With these and other .ends in view, I illustrate in the accompanying drawings such instances of adaptation as will disclose the broad underlying features of the invention without limiting myself to the specific details shown thereon and described herein. I

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the associated reproduci g devices, and the cooperating circuits.

Fig. 2 is an amplified diagram of my system, showing several features on an enlarged scale..

Fig. 3 is a detached diagram showing the relation of multiple scanning to the pitchof traverse.

4 In practicing my invention I may use whatever alternatives or equivalents of structure that the exigencies of varying conditions may demand without departing from the broad spirit of the invention.

In the drawings the scanning system and the reproducing system, positioned adjacent the two drums, are moved lengthwise of the drum by any suitable well known means, comprising a feed screw and a carriage in common for both systems (not shown) v I The two drums 1 and 2 are connected by a shaft 3, serving both. This shaft is driven by a motor shaft 5 provided with any well known worm which meshes with the worm gear 4 on the shaft 3. The drum 1 may .carry the subject to be reproduced and the drum 2 may carry the material on which the reproduction is made. This material may be for direct engraving a thin sheet of wax on a suitable paper or other base, and

a thin sheet of celluloid; for recording only a light sensitive paper, a chemically prepared paper,

or a transparent sheet of celluloid coated with a layer of thin carbon particles, such as camphor 0 soot, etc. As shown on the drawings the drum 1 is associated with a direct observation scanning system 711. It is obvious that the subject mounted on a glass cylinder or drum will cooperate with the scanning system similarly to that shown, in 05 which case the source of light will be inside the cylinder.

As instanced in the drawings, the scanning system comprises a source of light 6 placed on each side of a scanning lens '7. A prism and suitable optical system concentrates the light onto a definite spot of the object or subject. Directly opposite the brightest area a microscopic objective-the scanning lens-is positioned. To one side in axial alignment with the lens 7 a narrow l5 slit 9 of the diaphragm 8 is positioned. Adjacent the slit 9 a lens 10 is placed. This lens only enlarges the slit sidewise so as to include all the separate light sensitive cathode plates 23 of the photo electric cell 11. Each one of these plates is connected to its own slip ring 16 through the cable 17. The battery 18 supplies current to the commutator 15, to four segments of which are connected to their respective slip rings 16. The rings 16 and the commutator 15 are attached to 35 a shaft 14, driven by a motor 13, independently of the main motor attached to the shaft 5.

The shaft 14 may be a continuation of the armature shaft of the motor 13 or it may be gear driven as desired. The shaft 14 also has attached thereon a group of slip rings 16' and a commutator 15'. This group of distributing or timing elements is connected to the output of the amplifying system to any desired form of reproducing elements 12. These elements are the same in number as the separate scanning elements of the light-sensitive cell 11. A cable 17' connects the distributers 15'-16 to the multiple recorder 12.

I do not limit myself to the specific amplifying stages shown, wherein 19 represents the first stage, :20 the second stage, 21' the third stage, and 22 a thermionic rectifier. The diagram, Fig.

2, shows the schematic connections from each segment of a commutator 15 to its respective slip ring 16. Each ring is connected to its own plate 23 of the cell 11. These plates form the cathode of the cell and they are connected to the minus side of the battery 18. The anode 24 of the drum the recording element 12 may comprise four blades 26. Each area 25 is picked up by one of the plates 23 which may slightly over lap each other.

What I claim is:

1. In automatic reproducing systems, a subject receiving surface, a recording surface, means for moving the two surfaces simultaneously at the same speed, a light sensitive multiple scanning system comprising a diaphragm having a continuous slot and a cooperating lens for limiting the scanning of a unit picture area to an elongated rectangle, a photo electric cell, a recording system, means for simultaneously traversing the subject and recording surface, and means for successively actuating the recorder by the scanner.

1 2. In a multiple scanning system, a scanning diaphragm having an opening, means for optically enlarging the opening in one direction, a plurality of separate light sensitive plates, an electric circuit, means for successively connecting the circuit from plate to plate in orderly sequence, and means for projecting light through the opening onto the plates.

' BENJAMIN W. WOODWARD. 

